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What Members Thought
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the narrative. I really loved Lily and Snow Flower and I cried at the end. It showed a friendship i can only dream of having.
Oct 28, 2016
Marie (UK)
rated it
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2016-reading-challenge
This is a book of both beauty and horror in the cultural customs described. I was fascinated by the detail in the story. The characters are beautifully portrayed and the narrator does not give precedence to her own character.
Lily lived in a remote part of China, where women had developed nu shu, a women's way of writing that was kept secret from men. At the age of 7, around the beginning of her her footbinding, Lily was contracted as a laothong to a girl named Snow Flower who was perfectly matched with Lily on critical characteristics and intended to be a lifelong friend, closer in many ways than a husband. I found every detail of the lives of Lily and Snow Flower fascinating. The intricate detail of the process of
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I loved how this story was woven in with understanding the lives of women in China in this historical time. Despite the obvious cruelty of the patriarchal society and horrors such as foot-binding, it was nice at least to read that women were encouraged and expected to seek friendship and solace with either a close group of women ('sworn sisters'), or with one 'laotong', a close relationship expected to last a lifetime. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
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Jan 04, 2010
Meg
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